Terumah
What Makes You Happy?
Dear Friend,
“Happiness is like a butterfly,” they say. “The more you chase it, the more elusive it seems.”
The Torah, however, disagrees, telling us that we can and must choose to be joyful. “And you shall be happy with all the good that the L-rd, your G‑d, has granted you and your household, you, the Levite, and the stranger who is among you.”
How do I make myself happy? The second part of the verse provides us with the answer to that:
- Recognize that what you have is from G‑d, and
- Make sure to share it with others who have less.
Our sages tell us that this incoming month, Adar, is a time to increase in joy—and I’ve just shared the Torah’s not-so-secret happiness recipe.
So what are we waiting for? Let’s get happy!
Menachem Posner
on behalf of the Chabad.org Editorial Team
P.S. What makes you happy? Please share your happiness tips in the comments section.
A condensation of the weekly Torah portion alongside select commentaries culled from the Midrash, Talmud, Chassidic masters, and the broad corpus of Jewish scholarship.
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Rabbi Schneur Zalman of Liadi articulated a model of divine unity that expands the quintessence of faith into the circle of reason, and fits the square of dissonance into the circle of life.
My beautiful adolescent grandchild was recently killed in a terrible accident. This is actually the second grandchild I've lost. Please tell me how I'm supposed to be happy?
Why is Adar such a happy month? Because it is so inauspicious for the Jewish nation!
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The First Temple, why was it destroyed? Because of idolatry, murder and adultery.
The Second Temple, when they were occupied in studying Torah, doing mitzvahs, and acts of loving-kindness, why was it destroyed?
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